Curious about Android L? Join the discussion in the forums!

By Andrew Martonik
last updated

In the aftermath of Google I/O, we're digging into all of the new stuff around the latest version of Android. With the release of factory images for the Nexus 5 and 7 that let you try out Android L for yourself, it seems a good number of people have taken the jump to trying out the first release of the software to get a glimpse of the future. For many it's still too early (understandably so) to give it a try considering the developer-focused nature of this early release, but that doesn't mean you can't learn a little bit while others give it a try.

Whether you've gotten your hands on a device with Android L or not, we think more than a few of you still have a lot you want to learn about the new software, and the best place to do that is in the Android Central forums. So if you've got questions or answers on Android L, hop into the forums and get in on the discussion!

Join the Android L discussion in the Android Central forums!

Andrew Martonik
Andrew Martonik

Andrew was an Executive Editor, U.S. at Android Central between 2012 and 2020.

33 Comments
  • I already uninstalled it after using it for a full day. There's no way to easily set the phone on vibrate mode! Posted via Android Central App
  • Right, the long-press power option isn't there, but why not just hit the volume down key a few times? It goes right into vibrate mode.
  • the long press power option isnt there?? surely thats an oversight. is there a post with what the long-press brings up?
  • It brings up the ability to turn off the phone. Plenty of things are nowhere near finished here. I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about it :) Posted via Android Central App
  • If it was a new feature that was unfinished it may not be cause to worry. But it is an old one that has been removed, that means it is far less likely to reappear in the finished version. I'm not liking what I'm seeing of the new UI much at all, but hopefully custom ROMs will be able to fix a lot of it. Posted via Android Central App
  • When you pull down the notification bar & tap notification bell, you will get into notification control. In that tap the bell again for ring & vibration.
  • Yea. Stock is that way now AC App via Nexus 5
  • I can't stomach the new on screen buttons. I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually when I'm used to seeing it everyday. If we're lucky, Motorola will keep the current button style. Posted from my Motorola Moto G
  • This. I liked the other design aspects but the buttons just looked retarded. Posted via Android Central App
  • I'm with you. It's not the buttons themselves that I don't like, though; it's the fact that they just seem out of place considering the rest of the design. The rest of the UI (in my experience so far, at least) has a pretty natural, organic flow to it, and angular geometric shapes just don't fit in with the rest of it. I hope that they change it before the official release, but I hope that they don't just revert back to the 4.0-4.4 buttons, either. Those would look just as out of place, and I was never a huge fan of them, anyway.
  • I have a strange feeling that Google will change a few things for the official release of "L". There's a reason they're not calling it by its real name. Hopefully the buttons change. Posted from my Motorola Moto G
  • Running Android L with root - got rid of the buttons with auto-hide soft keys, looks great now. Posted via AC App on Xperia Z2 Tablet
  • How do you navigate back, home and multitasking? Posted from my Motorola Moto G
  • I have configured those using an app called Navigation Layer. Posted via AC App on N5 running L
  • Running Android L with root - got rid of the buttons with auto-hide soft keys, looks great now. Posted via AC App on Xperia Z2 Tablet
  • Running Android L with root - got rid of the buttons with Auto Hide Soft Keys, looks great. Posted via AC App on Xperia Z2 Tablet
  • I absolutely ADORE the new buttons. Well, me and my PS4 :)
  • I've been running on my nexus 5 and I think its awesome. A welcome change Posted via Android Central App
  • How are you finding battery life on the N5? I use my N5 for work, so I'm not comfortable flashing experimental OS builds on it. I've been playing with it on my N7, but you can't put a tablet to the same battery torture tests as you do for a phone.
  • i put it on my nexus 7, but i don't think i can handle losing xposed on my nexus 5. or now that root has been achieved, will xposed work on this new ART runtime that has semi dalvik compatibility?
  • I believe dalvik based apps are not working as expected. Twitter, fb etc.
  • I hope they will still support nexus 4 Posted via Android Central App
  • Agreed
  • There's no reasonable excuse not to. The generally accepted reason for not updating the GNex past Jelly Bean was that the TI OMAP processor is legacy hardware that Google didn't want to spend the extra time and money to support. That same excuse wouldn't hold water if they decided not to update the Snapdragon S4-based Nexus 4. If the N4 doesn't get Android L, then Google can just stop saying that access to software updates is a feature of the Nexus program.
  • I'm not really a fan of L so far. I reserve the right to change my mind once the final version is released. I'll be switching back to 4.4.4 sometime this weekend. Posted via Android Central App
  • How do we revert back to Kitkat?
  • The same way you upgraded to L. Download and flash the the 4.4.4 factory image from the developer site.
  • Actually I like the buttons. I guess anyway when there is propper developpment and exposed working one can place and add them as one like.
    Posted via Android Central App
  • Just curious.... did they indicate when "L" will be rolled out to the carriers so they can upgrade their customer phones? Is this something that's going to take another year or just months down the road. Again, just curious... I'm still waiting on 4.4.4 for my LG G2... so no big hurry for "L".
  • L is expected to be a Fall (think early November 2014). Thus far only HTC has promised a submission to carriers 90 days from release. From then, expect a few more months for Verizon devices.
  • Has anyone confirmed the ability to quick reply to a notification without leaving current app or game? Posted via Android Central App
  • Who cares!!! Won't be here for another yr or so
  • Will This Andriod L updates comes to Nexus 4 ??